More running, fewer shots and greater goalkeeper involvement — these are some of the trends emerging from the World Cup in Qatar that show how the broader world of football is changing.
Just eight games are left after the 56 group stage and first knockout games already played, providing fans of football data a wealth of information to devour. Using statistics from the “high-tech match analysis tools” compiled for Fifa, football’s governing body, the Financial Times has picked out some of the main trends.
As teams prepare for the quarter-finals that begin on Friday, these metrics help to explain why some teams have excelled and others have been eliminated.